• The pressure is mounting in Los Angeles after the Kings were shut out for the third time in five games on Saturday. The defense was magnificent, allowing just 13 shots, but even that margin of error was too large in a 2-0 loss to the Flyers.

• Adrian Dater has a terrific piece on the obvious need for the NHL to do more for its former players. It starts off with one of the most unexpected bits of songwriting trivia I've ever heard. Who knew that legendary Eagles song was about a hockey player?

• Bruce Garrioch looks at the repercussions of Vancouver's 2-4 skid without John Tortorella, the favorite to land Ryan Miller and reveals the deadline for Team Canada to make the call on Steven Stamkos in this week's Sunday column.

• Could Saku Koivu become the next 40-year-old Anaheim Duck? He's considering playing next season, but it could come down to whether or not the team does this.

• How long until someone stands up and speaks out on the horrors of lace bite? Seriously, boys, just don't tie 'em up so tight.

• A fancystats guy argues that a defenseman who racks up hits and blocked shots sucks. Because, you know, #fancystats. I get the basic premise here -- these events don't occur during possession -- but my problem with this argument is that no team has possession 100 percent of the time, and a player who is credited with these traditional numbers is clearly doing something that impedes the success of the opposition during their time with the puck ... which would seem to be better than not doing something. But I could be wrong.

• Here's a nice, though oddly timed, piece on the hero of Canada's first ever World Juniors win.

• Remember that little movie about legendary Russian forward Valeri Kharlamov? It just won Best Film at Russia's version of the Academy Awards. No word yet about North American release plans, but it should be available at some point on DVD in Canada, at the least.